Bullet-proof counter attachment



Nov. 19, 1929. M. SMART 1336,6572

BULLETPROGF COUNTER ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 1'7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W V J 78 9'4 INVENTOR.

car-r0 I) M. ,Smdri.

A TTORNEY.

Nov. 19, 1929. c. M. SMART I BULLETPRQOF COUNT-ER ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1'7, 1927 llllllilll ll lIlllllll-llll II 'II'II'IIIIIIIIII'III Patented Nov. 19, 1929 1.11 S T A T E S UNITE PATENT QFFHQE BULLET-PROOF COUNTER ATTACHMENT Application filed February 17,1927. Serial No. 168,917.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a bullet proof counter attachment adapted for mounting in banks, accounting houses, and similar places where evaluable assets are retained and dealt in,

and the invention has, as its object, the provision of 'a device whereby the one in possession of the valuable assets may converse with customers and carry on transactions with them without permitting access of the his control. In order to effect this. arrangement it is desirable that there be a means of transferring moneys, papers and documents, etc., from the customer to the teller and from the teller to the customer, and to this end I have provided a conveying system, the provision of such a system being a further object of the invention. Another objectof the invention is the provision of a means of communication so that the teller may converse with the customer and the provision of such a means is set out in the invention and forms an object thereof. Another object of the invention is the provision in a tellers window of a gun port so arranged that the teller may, upon projecting'a gun therethrough, be able to move the gun universally as to direction, so as to cover a person in the room, regardless of his position.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this kind of a gun port having a cover for the opening so arranged 5 that it may be opened and closed at will by the teller, while at the same time it is locked in closed position against opening by a party at the other side of the window from the teller.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed."

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyin drawings which form a partof this specification and in which,

Fig. 1. is a fragmentary side elevational view of the invention mounted in position and showing a part in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing parts in rear elevation and parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line le-4 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view Fig. 1.

The invention is adapted for use in connection preferably with 'a vcounter 11 supported by the partition member 9 and projecting upwardly from the counter 11 is the partition 10 which is preferably made from bullet proof glass, so that it is transparent,

taken on line 8-8 of ,while at the same time, a protective shield for a person positioned behind it. The counter 11 is provided with an opening 12 positioned at opposite sides of the window opening formed in the partition 10.

Positioned in the opening 12 formed in the counter 11 is a supporting frame 12 projecting downwardly from which in spaced relation are plates 13 and 14. At the opposite side projecting downwardly in spaced relation are plates 15 and 16. Rotatably mounted on a shaft 18' which is journalled in the plates 15 and 16 is a roller 18. Fixedly mounted upon a shaft 37 which extends through. and is journalled in, the plates 15 and 16 is a roller 17, an endless belt or conveyor 19 extending around the rollers 17 and 18. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 43 which extends through, and is journallcd in, the

plates 13 and 14, is a roller 20 which co-operates with the roller 21 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 21 which is projected through, and journalled in, the plates 13 and 14. An endless belt or conveyor 22 asses around the roller 20 and roller 21.

ecured to the plates 15 and 16 is a plate 23 which serves to support an electric motor 24 provided with the shaft 25 which extends into the gear housing 27, and is provided with the worm 28 meshing with the worm gear which is fixedly mounted the worm wheel 31 meshing with the worm wheel 33, fixedly mounted upon the shaft 34 which projects upwardly t rough the housing 32 and carries at its'upper end, fixedly mounted thereon, a bevel gear 35. This bevel gear 35 meshes with the bevel gear 36 which is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 37. A bevel gear 38 also meshes with the bevel gear 35, this bevel gear 38 being fixedly mounted upon the shaft39 which projects through, and is j ournalled in, the depending plates 13 and 14. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft 39 is a sprocket Wheel 40 which connects, through the chain 41, to a' sprocket wheel 42, fixedly mounted upon the shaft 43.

The construction is such that, upon an operation of the motor 24, the conveyors or endless belts 19 and 22 are driven continuously in opposite directions.

It will be noted that the shaft 18' is positioned lower than the shaft 21, and that the shaft 21' is positioned lower than the shaft 43. Formed on the plate or counter 12 is a downwardly inclined chute 44 which, together with the upper portion 45, of the plates 14 and 13, will form a passageway leading to the belt or endless conveyor 22, this chute 44 terminating at a bevel at its lower edge and being, as shown in Fig. 6, formed arcuate, so as to prevent a package, such as a roll of coins, from passing downwardly from the chute in a transverse position, thus eliminating the possibility of a coin roll remaining at the lower end of the chute and merel rolling in response to the contact of the end less conveyor-22 therewith. The end 46 of this chute 44 is also formed arcuate, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted, as shown in Fig. v5, that the roller 20 brings the endless belt or conveyor 22 on to a level with the plane of the counter or-plate 12, and that the roller 21 is positioned at one side of the partition 10, and the roller 20 at the other side, so that a person at one side of the partition may deposit articles in the chute thus formed and have them transported, by means of the endon the conveyor 19 for transferring articles from the opposite side of the partition 10.

. In this-way, the single driving means is wa ers used for driving the conveyors in opposite directions and a means is provided for arrangin communication between opposite sides 0 the partition without permitting a a person to have access thereto. The space between the endless conve ors 19 and 22, and the lowermost edge of t e partition 10, is such that a person could not insert the hand thereunder to operate a gun, so as to coerce a person at,the opposite side of the partition,

' the space being of such a limited size that 29 which is mounted on the shaft 30 and upon eifectlve' operation of a gun would be impossible. Extended around the motor 24, and the various mechanisms operated thereby, is a shield or housing 49. Extending downwardly from the plate or counter 12 at the other side of the partition is anenclosing housing 50 which serves toenclose the mechanism and preventing access to any openings whichmay be formed in the supporting partition 9. A

Mounted at opposite sides of the partition 10 is a housing made up of sections, the section 51 being positioned atone side of the partition 10, and the section 52 being positioned at the other side. This housing serves to enclose a window opening or other opening which may be formed therein, the window opening being preferably closed by the bullet proof transparent closure 10. The housing section 51 is provided with an inclined wall in which is formed an opening 53 closed by a suitable screen 56. The housing section 52 is also provided with the inclined wall having the opening 54 formed therein enclosed by the screen 55. These housing sections are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the plate or counter 12.

Mounted in the housing section 51 is a telephone transmitter 57 and a similar transmit ter 58 is mounted in the housing section 52. A bracket 59 is mounted on the telephone" 57 for supporting it on the plate 12, and a similar bracket 60 serves to support the telephone transmitter '58. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the plate 12 is provided with a downward projection 61 to provide a recess 61', through which may be projected wiring to be described hereinafter. An opening is formed in the base of this downwardly projecting portion 61, and is provided with a vibratory diaphragm 62 connected to the transmitter button 63 which is connected by means of the Wire 64 to the battery 66, and by means of the wire 65 to an audio amplifier 68. This amplifier is connected through the wires 69 and 72 to one of the terminals in the telephone transmitters 57 and Y58, andis connected by the wires 70 and 71 to the telephone transmitters 57 and 58. This amplifier 68 is also connected by the wire 67 to the battery 66. The construction is such that when a person at one side of the partition is talking the sound will pass through the screen 56 and strike the vibratory diaphragm 62, and instantly be reproduced through the telephones 57 and 58. Similarly, a person at the other side of the partition talking will cause the sound to pass through the screen 55 so as to strike the vibratory diaphragm 62, thus effecting a reproducing of the sound telephones 57 and 58.

In operation the motor 24 will be continuously rotating so that the conveyors will be travelling .in opposite directions across the partition 10, and when mounted in a bank or similar place, the teller at oneside of the partition may communicate with the customer at the other side, and the customer may, by depositing articles'on the conveyor 19, have them delivered to the teller at the other side of the partition, and'the teller may, by depositing articles in the conveyor 22, have them delivered at the side of the partition at which the customer stands. It is thus seen that I have provided a means for transmitting sound from one side of the partition to the other, and. for transmitting articles from one side of the partition to the other, rendering the teller at one side of the partition absolutely safe from any illegal designs of the customer, so that a theft of the articles, or a holdup of the teller, is prevented.

It is believed apparent that a single conveyor may be used, if desired, with a suitable clutch for reversing direction of rotation, this clutch to be operated by the teller at his side of the partition.

In the partition 10, I have also provided a port through which the teller, or other person positioned behind the partition at the side where the valuables are kept, may cover with a gun a person at the other side of the partition so as to prevent, in case of any attempt at theft or holdup, the escape of the party so attempting. Mounted in an opening formed in the partition 10' is a frame 7 3 having the flanges 7 3' and 73" projecting from opposite faces thereof to provide a groove in which the partition 10 may engage, a suitable layer 73 being positioned therein for forming a resilient engagement member with the partition 10. The flange 73 is formed by mounting the plate 75 on the frame 73, suitable screws 76 being used for this purpose. Positioned in an opening formed in the frame 73 is a substantially spherical member 74 having a bore 7 7 formed therein, this member 74 being adapted for.

universal movement in its mountings, so that a 'gun barrel, when thrust through the bore 77, may be moved to point in any desired direction. Fixedly mounted upon a shaft 78 is a pinion 79 meshing'with the rack bar 82 which carries an operating knob having the neck 83 provided with a bayonet slot 84 in which engages the pin 85 projecting out-- 'wardly from the bracket 86 which is mounted upon the plate 75. Fixedly mounted upon from each of the the shaft 78 is a lug which projects inwardly from a substantially semi-spherical cover 81 which .is adapted, when moved to closed position as shown in Fig. 1, to cover the passage 77.

It is evident that when the pin is engaged in the offset portion of the bayonet slot 84, that a longitudinal movement of the rack bar 82 is prevented so that rotation of the shaft 78 is prevented, and a lifting of the cover 81 from the opening 77 is impossible.

With this structure, the operator, by turning the knob, will move the sleeve 83, so that the pin lies in the elongated portion of the bayonet slot, thus ermitting an axial movement of the rack ar 82 to effect a rotation of the shaft 78, so as to lift the cover 81 from the'bore 77. When this is done, the gun barrel may be thrust through the bore 77 and moved to point in any desired direction.

It is thus evident that I have mounted in the partition 10 a device whereby the teller at one side of the partition may be shielded from a bandit or unlawful minded person, and at the same time, afforded with means for shooting, or at least, covering the person with a gun from behind the partition.

With this combination of the sound transmitting mechanism in the housing, the conveying mechanism and the gun port, I have provided a mechanism whereby the handling of valuables may be carried on safely, and with the hazard of theft or banditry reduced to a minimum.

'While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of structure, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such l variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described adapted for use with a partition forming member having a window opening formed therein; a closure for said opening; a supporting frame mounted in said closure; a universally movable member carried in said frame and provided with an opening formed therethrough; a cover for the outer end of said universally movable member; means accessible from only one side of said partition for moving said closure to uncover said opening; said means being on the opposite side of said partition relatively to said cover; and means on said side of said partition for locking said cover against movement.

2. In adevice of the class described adapted for use with a partition forming member; a supporting frame mounted in said partition forming member; a universally movable member carried in said frame and provided with a diametrical passage therethrough; a cover for the outer surface of said member; lugs on said cover; a shaft upon which said 4' menses lugs are fixedly mounted, the rotation of said shaft effecting a swinging of saii closure relativelyto said member; a, pinion fixedly mounted on said shaft; a rack bar meshing 5 with said pinion, the axial movement of safl rack bar efl'ecting a rotation of said pinion; and means for locking Sam rack bar against said movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

' CARROLL M, SMART. 

